Crankcase ventilation



Nov. 28, 1933. w. H. MOYSE CRANKCASE VENTILATION Original Filed July 2,1926 therefore, desirable to withdraw adulterants,

" the lubricant.

Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STAT -s PATENT FICE I,

, CRANKCASE VENTILATION William H.Moyse, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaApplication-July 2, 1926, Serial No. 120,150

Renewed August 20, 1927 7 20 Claims. (01. 123-119 Thisinvention relatesto oil purification, and

more particularly to crankcase circulation and has for one of itsprimary objects the elimination of condensation of gases in thecrankcase of an explosive engine and the consequent dilution of Dilutionnot only destroys the lubricating characteristics of'theoil, butundercold weather conditions, diluted oil has a tendency to congealand'freeze, causing injury and preventing the operation of the engine.It is,

such as vapors that seep past the pistons and any steam that may bedeveloped within the crankcase, from the engine, before they condense onthe walls or mix with and dilute the lubricating oils.

' ing and automatic control of the suction created The object of theinvention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means of producing andcontrolling a suction for inducing ventilation and freeing the crankcaseto such vapors, wherei by, under normal conditions, there will be atendency to substantial uniformity in the crankcase circulation.

The suction necessary to induce the flow of air through the'crankcasemay obviously be created in various wa'ys. It is, of course, desirablethat the power 'to create the suction be developed by the operation ofthe-engine. This may be accomplished by-,the use of the vacuum pumpdriven off the crankshaft. However, it is important to obviate as far aspossible moving or working parts, and to'this end the suction pro ducedin the engine cylinders on the intake stroke may be employed, when" suchvapors would be drawn with the combustible gases through the engineandj'discharged in theexhaust conduits.

A more feasible method has been fou'ndto be the v use 01' dischargedspent gases as they leave the mufller to produce the suction. Thus itwill be seen that the intensity of the suction developed, will vary withdifferent engine speeds, and the great degree developed at "high enginespeed when the 'mufilerdischarge is heavy, would have a tendency tocarry along the lubricant. To avoid this difiiculty, the excessivesuction must be by-passed before it reaches the crankcase,

which will 'have'the result 'of maintaining as nearly as possibleasubstantial uniform circulation within the crankcase. The presentinvention is particularly concerned" with the by-pass- In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation outlining an'automobile frame with' anengine mounted'therein and the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

the crankcase connection with the source of suction, showing the suctioncontrolmechanism.

lFigure 3 is a transverse view of line 33 of Figure 2. i

Figure 4 is a top plan view, partly in section,

of the housing. on the exhaust mufller andillus-" trates one form ofcreating the vacuum. Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of acarburetor with an air suction line connected thereon, and illustratingthe employment of ensine Suction. I

Referring to the drawing, wherein the invention is shown forillustrativepurposes as applied to an explosive engine of an automobile, thereferen'cecharacter "1- indicates the crankcase, and 2 a breatherpipepermitting the entrance ofair into the crankcase. An exhaust conduit3 onthe top of the crankcase,-extends into a chambered housing 4, which hastherein two passageways. The conduit 3, communicates with onepassageway, leading at a medial point into the second passageway,extending entirely'through the housing. The upper end of the continuouspassageway forms a by-pass conduit, having therein the butterfly controlvalve '5. From the V lower-end of the passageway, the flexible conduit 6leads rearwardly, and is connected to a lateral arm '7 of the ejectorhousing 8, attached to the discharge outlet of the mulller- 9. The shaftfor the butterfly valve extends to one side of the housing 4 and has, atits end the crank arm 10 with a small spring 11 exerting itsforceagainst the crank, tending toclose the valve. The car buretor 12 iscontrolled by the throttle valve 13 connected by the rod 14, to a footaccelerator (not shown) in the drivers compartment." Clamped to theaccelerator rod 14,:is a' 'collar 15 upon which the spring '16 exertsits tension tourge the throttlevalve to closed position. The eye-17 ofthe rod 18, slides 'on'the accelerator rod, and

strength to resist such slightthrot-tle valve open ins. IInpracticeithas beenffounddesirable to keep the butterfly valve closeduntil the automobile has attained a speed of approximately ten miles perhour. Up to this time the discharged spent gases from the mufilerthrough the ejector 5 housing 8, create a suction in the conduit 6 thatis ideal for circulation purposes. With the butterfly valve closed, allof the suction is exerted on the crankcase, which withdraws the vaporsand induces fresh clean air to enter the breather 10 tube.

creating a correspondingly increased suction. To

relieve the crankcase of this increased suction,

as the acceleratorrod 14 continues its movement 15 forward to open thethrottle valve, the additional throttle valve aften the throttle valvehas been compression of the spring 19 causes its'tension to equal thatof the spring 11, and thereafter;

the eye 17, and with it the rod 18 will move forward with theaccelerator rod 14, toopen the 20 butterfly valve. Thus, the operationof the butterfly valvedepends upon the operation of the throttle valve,and the butterfly, valve remains closed until the throttle has reached apredetermined point. Thereafter, the additional throttle valve opening,causing greater suction to be developed in the ejector housing, willcorrespondingly open theby-pass to relieve this increased suction, andthe remaining portion, acting onthe crankcase, will thus have a tendencyto remain constant during all speeds, under normal operation of theengine. The connections are such that the butterfiyivalve-is wide openin advance of the throttle valve, which will generallyoccur at an enginespeed that will drive the automobile at approximately thirty-five milesper hour. During the further opening of the throttle valve, the stop pinholds the butterfly against further movement while the spring 19 iscompressed to Q :1: compensate for the difference in movement be 40tween the two valves.

I As a modification of suction producingmeans, thereis'shown in Figure 5the flexible conduit 6 leading to the carburetor. This may lead in atanyplace below the throttle valve, when the engine suction controlled bythe throttle valve,

acts on the'crankcase vapors, the excess being by-- passed in the mannerdescribed. 7

It is to be understood, that the range of operation of the butterflyvalve given in the above description as being from ten to thirty-fivemiles per-hour is merelyfor illustrativepurposes, as this range willvary according to different conditions and types of automobiles.

. r From the above description it will be apparent obvious modificationsmay be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas set forth in theappended claims.

QI-claim: I g I 1. Means to free an explosive engine crankcaseofadulterants, including in combination a throttle valve governingengine operation, suction producing means controlled bythe engine andcommunicating withthe crankcase toinduce circulation a by-passassociatedtherewith, and-means vv5'5 to control the Icy-pass in accordance withthe However, as the engine speed increases a "tion, a'by-pass associatedtherewith to partially greater discharge of spent gases occurs, thereby.

riable with engine" operation, and j means conactuation of the throttlevalve to partially divert suction which is in excess of a predeterminedvalve for maintaining crankcase.circulationsubstantially uniform. a

2. Means to free an explosive engine crankcase of adulterants, includingin combination'a throttle valve governing engine operation, suctionproducing means controlled by the engine-and: communicating with thecrankcase to induce circuladivert suction in excess of a predeterminedvalue :away from the crankcase for maintainingcircu-:lationsubstantially uniform thruout the'range of engineoperation,..a,control valve therefor, and means to -operate the by-passvalve with the operated toa predetermined partial open position. 3.Means. to free an explosive engine crankcase of adulterants, includingin combination a throttle valve governing ,engine operation,-, suctionproducing means'controlled ,by' engineope'ration and communicating.Withthe crankcase to induce cir-' culation, a byT-passassoci'atedthe'rewith to par many divert suction in excess ofla'.predetermined. Q value away from the crankcase" for m'aintainingicirculation substantially I uniform thruout therange of enginevoperation,a control valvethere for, and means to operate the ,bypassv'alve withv the throttle valve until the -.byl-pass valve is fullylopened. u 57105 lj Means to free anexplosive engine crankcase ofadulterants, including in combination athr'ottle valve governing engineopeifatiomsuction pro ducing means controlled byfltheengin'egope'ra'tion and communicating with the crankcase to induce.circulation, a by-pass associated therewith to partially divert suctionin excess .of a predetermined value away fr'o m'the crankcasefformain.taining circulation I substantially uniform thru. out the range ofengine operation, a control valve. therefor, and. means t'o.l'ope'rat'evsaid valves in unison thruout an intermediate range offadjustment of thethrottle valve, .-,to p'errnit an initial opening of the throttleinIa'd'vance of the opening or the bypass .i valve aria a snail openingfof. the fat throttle I after i the by-p'assf v 'vei is n'n yiopened;

5., Means to free an explo eengine crankcase of adulterants,includingl'in combination, 'a'nijexhaust conduit for. spentjenginegases, ainullle'i" therefor, an'ej ector housing on the discha'r'geout-i125 let of thelmufiler communicating withithe jcrankecase, whereby theflow of (spent engine .gases'thru the ejector housingiinducesj asuctionft'o with draw crankcase vapors. v Y 6, Meansto free .an exploive' engine crankcase of adulterants,-including in. jmbination, anexhaust conduit for. spent gases, a'muffie'r therefor, an ejectorhousingiat'the outlet, oflthemuffier, a conduit connecting. thecrankcase with the .'e iie.ctor housing," in which .a suction iscreatedbythe' flow of spent engine gases thru the ejeCtor"housing, todraw ofiIcr ankcafse val19 7's,-and"meansto control the action ofsuction o n,the"crankcase v po 1 ,Q

'7. In an internal combu's'tionler'igine, [the corrif-JJ bination or a.carburetorithrottlefval I erning engine operation, means .to' produce 1suc-, tion for withdrawing crankcase vapors 'fromthe engine, the valueof suctioii'produced being vaits trolled by throttle valve'adjustment'to j'liniit within a predeterminedvalue the" suction,permitted to acton crankcase vaporsjwhereby the action i s ubsiantianyconstant at an times. ,1

s. In an internal combustio n'j'eng ine," thecombi fit" , stream of airthrough the crankcase, and'engine nation with a carburetor throttlevalve governing the feeding of fuel to the engine, suction producingmeans variable in accordance with the amount of fuel fed to the engine,and an engine crankcase, of a conduit connecting the suction producingmeans with the crankcase to withdraw vapors therein, a by-pass in saidconduit and a control valve for the by-pass having an operativeconnection with the throttle valve to divert suction produced in excessof a predetermined value thru the by-pass for maintaining circulation ofcrankcase vapors substantially uniform thruout the range of throttlevalve manipulation. i

9. Means to free an explosive engine crankcase of adulterants, includingin combination, a throttle valve governing engine operation, suctionproducing means controlled by the engine, a conduit connecting thesuction producing means with the crankcase to relieve crankcase vapors,a relief valve in the conduit and means to operate the relief valve withthe throttle valve including a flexible connection permitting an initialthrottle valve movement in advance of the relief valve.

10. Means to free an explosive engine crankcase of adulterants,including in combination, a throttle valve governing engine operation,suction producing means controlled by the engine, a conduit connectingthe suction producing means with the crankcase to relieve crankcasevapors, a relief valve in the conduit and a flexible connection betweenthe valves to operate said valves in unison thruout a portion of therangeof movement of the throttle valve.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine including acrankcase, inlet and outlet openings in said crankcase, means operatedby said engine for passing a current of air through said openings toventilate the crankcase, and means operable by increasing the speed ofsaid engine forv progressively obstructing said cur-- rent.

12. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a crankcaseprovided with an inlet passage and an outlet passage, means for causinga stream of air to be drawn into said crankcase through the inletpassage and discharged through said outlet passage, and means forrestricting fiow of air through one of said passages, said meansoperating inversely as theengine speed.

13. In an engine of the class described comprising a crankcase chamber,means for circulating air through said crankcase, a throttle valve forregulating the speed of said engine, and means for restricting thecirculation of air therethrough by the opening of said throttle.

14. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a crankcase,means for passing a said crankcase from said inlet to said outlet, and

means positioned in accordance with adjustment of the throttle valveadapted to control such fiow. I

16. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a crankcaseand the usual. throttle valve, means for passinga stream of air throughthe crankcase, and means connected with the throttle valve'forpreventing increase in flow of air through the crankcase with increasein engine speed. i

17. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a crankcase,means for passing a stream of air through the crankcase, a valve forcontrolling flow throughthe crankcase, and

, means operated by increase in engine speed or load for operating saidvalve to prevent increase in flow of air through the crankcase.

18. The combination with an internal combustion engine including acrankcase and an exhaust, of a conduit for introducing air into one sideof said crankcase, a pipe communicating at one end with said crankcase,an ejector enclosing said exhaust and connected to the opposite end ofsaid pipe for creating a partial vacuum therein, and means connected tosaid pipe intermediate its ends and adapted to deliver an thereto ininsufficient quantities to satisfy the depression therein created bysaid vacuum.

19. The'combination with an internal combustion engine including acrankcase and an exhaust, of a conduit for introducing air into one sideof said crankcase, means associated with said exhaust for creating apartial vacuum and communicating with said crankcase, and meansconnected with said first named means to deliver air to said first namedmeans in insufficient ,quantities to satisfy the depression created bysaid vacuum. I e

20. The combination with an internal combustion engine including acrankcasa of a conduit for introducing air into one side of saidcrankcase, means communicating with said crankcase ,for

creating a partial vacuum therein, and means GERTIFIGATE 6F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,937,031. Nuvember 28, 1933.

WILLIAM F. MOYSE.

it is her eb verified that errm' appears in me primed speeiiiaation ofthe aT-iove numbered gmiezzi requiring csn'ectien as faliows: Page 3,aim; l fine 132,

insert tlw fallowing as claim 21:

in cembinatimr wi 21. ii: an internal combustion engine inciuding afii'fiHRC-fiSG, inliei and (millet (mailings in said srankcase, meansagerate by said ezzg'ine fer passing curzent a? air threugh saL:eye-mugs i0 ventiiaie the arzmimase, and

means 0 rabie ivy incrwsng the speed 05 said engine far pregre ssivedylessenin said current as the speed of fize angina insreases.

22-2 8215f: Letters Eatent siwuid be read with this correction thereinthat me Sdmfi ma ctiarm in s record 0f the case in the ia'iem flffice.

Sigued seaia this 3th day of 'anuary, A. D. 1934.

F. M. Hopkins Acting fiammissimer 0% Patents.

